UNESCO also requires China to make every project proposal near the site of Three Parallel Rivers known to the public. "We wish the local governments in China understand that being inscribed on the World Heritage List means more than enjoying tourist profits, but assuming more responsibilities and fulfilling promises," said a UNESCO expert.

Tong Mingkang, the Deputy Director of State Cultural Relics Bureau, said China has already had six World Heritage sites being warned about possible removal from the list, including Three Parallel Rivers, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Potala Palace and the ancient city of Lijiang in Yunnan Province.

He said the reasons are as follow: first, some local governments lack knowledge and international experience. For instance, the ancient city of Lijiang in Yunnan province moved all the ethnic minority Naxi people out of the town, causing the city to loseits indigenous taste. Secondly, some sites are over profit-driven. Thirdly, the principle of protection and restoration do not conform with the international conventions.

According to Tong, the restoration of the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven are now being implemented under the guideline of the "Beijing Document" co-issued by Chinese experts and experts from ICCROM (International Center for the study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property). As for Lijiang city and the Potala Palace, China will enlarge the protection area and tourism buffer area to ensure the completeness of the two sites.

Tong suggested that the warning helps China to understand the real meaning of being World Heritage sites, "which might be a good thing."

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